Freight container and methods of lifting a freight container

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns a freight container. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns a freight container with a length 45 ft or greater. A freight container comprises a base, a first longitudinal side, a second longitudinal side, and two end walls at opposite ends of the freight container. A first pair of lifting points is located to the first longitudinal side of the freight container and a second pair of lifting points is located to the second longitudinal side of the freight container. The first longitudinal side and second longitudinal side are 45 ft or greater in length, and each pair of lifting points is positioned inwardly spaced of the two end walls, such that the lifting points of each pair are spaced no more than 33 ft apart from each other.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a freight container. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns a freight container with a length 45 ft or greater.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Freight containers come in a number of a standard sizes, commonly 20 ft, 40 ft, and 45 ft, and container handling apparatus is designed such that such that they may lift these standard containers by engaging load lifting apparatus with lifting points, typically twist-lock lifting points, located at the corners of the containers. In order to increase the load carrying capacity of a container, larger freight containers may be provided, for example 48 ft, 51 ft, or 53 ft long. While such containers may provide greater loading space than 40 ft and 45 ft containers, they may be more difficult to handle. This may be because the lifting points located at the corners of the containers are too fat apart to be engaged by the usual load lifting apparatus designed to lift shorter containers. Alternatively, or additionally, the base of the container may have to be substantially strengthened to prevent excessive bending of the container during lifting. Strengthening the base of the container may make the container more expensive and also increase the weight of the container.

The present invention seeks to mitigate the above-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the invention provides a freight container comprising a base, a first longitudinal side, a second longitudinal side, two end walls at opposite ends of the freight container, a first pair of lifting points located to the first longitudinal side of the freight container and a second pair of lifting points located to the second longitudinal side of the freight container, wherein the first longitudinal side and second longitudinal side are 45 ft (13700 mm) or greater in length, and each pair of lifting points is positioned inwardly spaced of the two end walls, such that the lifting points of each pair are spaced no more than 33 ft (10100 mm) apart from each other.

A freight container according to the first aspect of the invention provides an over-length container that may be lifted using standard lifting equipment. The longitudinal sides of the freight container may be 45 ft (13700 mm), 48 ft (14630 mm), 51 ft (15600 mm) or 53 ft (16150 mm). Providing the four lifting points inwardly of the two end walls results in the stresses when lifting the container being more evenly dispersed along the container than if the four lifting points were located at the corners of the two end walls. Such an arrangement may allow the base of the container to be less heavily engineered than if the four lifting points were located at the corners of the two end walls.

The freight container may have a width between 2438 mm and 2600 mm. The freight container may have a width of 2438 mm. The freight container may have a width of 2550 mm. The freight container may have a height between 2590 mm and 3500 mm. The freight container may have a height such that, when the freight container is placed on a road trailer, the height of the freight container and road trailer does not exceed 4000 mm. The freight container may have a height of approximately 2590 mm. The freight container may have a height of approximately 2900 mm. The freight container may have a height of approximately 3350 mm.

The location of the pairs of lifting points to respective sides of the freight container may comprise the lifting points being located at the very edges of the shipping container sides. Alternatively, the pairs of lifting points may be located inside of the edges of the shipping container sides.

Each lifting point may be associated with a structural element extending from the base of the container. The structural element may be directly aligned with and connected to the lifting point in a vertical direction. The structural elements may transfer at least a substantial portion of the lifting loads to the base of the container. In an alternative embodiment, the lifting points may be offset from the structural elements and joined to the structural elements by a cantilever.

The lifting points of each pair may be equally spaced from the respective end walls of the container. Such an arrangement will improve the balance of the container during a lifting procedure. In an alternative embodiment, there may be a degree of offset between the lifting points of each pair, such that one pair of lifting points is closer to the respective end wall than the other pair of lifting points.

The lifting points of each pair may be spaced no more than 30 ft (9100 mm) apart from each other. When referring to the spacing of the lifting points, measurements are to be taken from the centre of each respective lifting point. The lifting points of each pair may be spaced approximately 30 ft (9100 mm) apart from each other. The centre to centre spacing of each pair of lifting points may be 8918 mm. The lifting points of each pair may be spaced such that standard lifting equipment for lifting 30 ft containers may be engaged with the lifting points. The lifting points of each pair may be spaced no more than 20 ft (6100 mm) apart from each other. The lifting points of each pair may be spaced approximately 20 ft (6100 mm) apart from each other. The centre to centre spacing of each pair of lifting points may be 5853 mm. The lifting points of each pair may be spaced such that standard lifting equipment for lifting 20 ft containers may be engaged with the lifting points.

The lifting points may be ISO twist-lock fittings. The lifting points may be substantially the same structurally as the corner fittings by which freight containers may be conventionally lifted, though the term corner fitting has not been used to avoid confusion as the lifting points are not located at the corners of the freight container. However, the skilled person will appreciate that structurally the lifting points may correspond to a corner fitting, despite the location of the lifting point. This structure will allow the freight container to be handled by standard lifting apparatus.

At least one of the first longitudinal side and second longitudinal side may be substantially open or openable. The freight container may be a curtain-sided freight container. The freight container may comprise one or more side doors. The freight container may comprise a plurality of bi-fold doors that, when open, give a substantially open longitudinal side of the freight container. A longitudinal side of the freight container may comprise one or more sliding doors. In an alternative embodiment the freight container may comprise closed sides.

The freight container may comprise a roof, wherein the four lifting points are integrated into the roof. A lifting point on one longitudinal side of the freight container may be structurally connected to the corresponding lifting point on the opposite longitudinal side of the freight container by a cross member. Such an arrangement may improve the structural rigidity of the freight container. The freight container may comprise a first longitudinal side wall defining the first longitudinal side. The first pair of lifting points may be structurally connected to the first longitudinal side wall. The freight container may comprise a second longitudinal side wall defining the second longitudinal side. The second pair of lifting points may be structurally connected to the second longitudinal side wall.

An additional aspect of the invention provides a method of lifting a freight container, the freight container with a length of 45 ft or greater, the method comprising the following steps:

engaging a lifting apparatus configured for lifting 30 ft containers with lifting points located on said freight container; and

lifting the freight container using the lifting apparatus.

An additional aspect of the invention provides a method of lifting a freight container, the freight container with a length of 45 ft or greater, the method comprising the following steps:

engaging a lifting apparatus configured for lifting 20 ft containers with lifting points located on said freight container; and

lifting the freight container using the lifting apparatus.

It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, the method of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to the apparatus of the invention and vice versa.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a freight container according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the freight container according to the first embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the freight container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a freight container 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The freight container comprises a base 12, a first longitudinal side 14 and second longitudinal side 16, and two end walls 18, 20, at opposite ends of the container 10. A pair of lifting points, 22, 24, are located to the first longitudinal side 14 of the container 10 and a pair of lifting points 26, 28, are located to the second longitudinal side 16 of the container 10. The lifting points are standard ISO twist-lock fittings. Each of the lifting points 22, 24, 26, 28, is located away from the end walls, 18, 20, of the container and towards the longitudinal centre of the container. The container 10 further comprises a roof 30 into which each of the lifting points 22, 24, 26, 28, is integrated.

The container 10 is substantially open sided, also known as a curtain sided container, such that the first longitudinal side 14 and second longitudinal side 16, is approximately open. FIGS. 1 and 3 show a cut-away of a curtain that may be used to close the sides of the container 10.

Each lifting point 22, 24, 26, 28, is joined to a structural element, with the side view of FIG. 1 showing the structural elements 32 and 34, joined with the lifting points 26 and 28. The structural elements 32 and 34 extend approximately perpendicularly from the base 12 of the container 10 to the respective lifting points 26 and 28. The structural elements 32 and 34 transfer the lifting loads from the lifting points 26 and 28 to the base 12 of the container 10. The corresponding members of each pair, 22 and 26, and 24 and 28, are also connected to each other by a transverse beam 36, 38. The transverse beams 36, 38, also add stiffness and strength to the container during a lifting procedure. The corresponding members of each pair 22 and 26, and 24 and 28, are located the same distance away from their respective end walls, 20, 18. Each member of the pairs is also located the same distance away from their respective end wall, i.e. the lifting point 22 is located the same distance from the end wall 20 as lifting point 24 is from end wall 18, The first longitudinal side and second longitudinal side are approximately 51.35 ft (15650 mm) long. The distance between the centre of lifting point 22 and the centre of lifting point 24, and the centre of lifting point 26 and centre of lifting point 28, is approximately 30 ft (8918 mm). That the lifting points are “approximately 30 ft” apart from each other is intended to encompass the lifting points being spaced such that the freight container may be lifted with standard lifting equipment configured for lifting 30 ft containers. The lifting points in this embodiment will be approximately 10 ft away from the respective end walls of the container. The freight container includes additional structural elements 40, 42, to increase the strength of the container during lifting. The freight container also includes a plurality of standard ISO fittings, 44, in various locations arranged to allow stacking/fixing of the container in a conventional manner.

In the described embodiment, when the container is lifted, substantially all of the vertical lifting force is transmitted via the pairs of structural elements 32 and 34 to the base 12 and applied to the base 12 where the elements 32 and 34 are connected to the base 12. Since the connections are at a spacing of 30 ft (8198 mm), the stresses in the middle of the base 12 of the container 10 are reduced relative to those that would apply if the container was lifted at its ends.

Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein.

Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments. 

1. A freight container comprising a base, a first longitudinal side, a second longitudinal side, two end walls at opposite ends of the freight container, a first pair of lifting points located to the first longitudinal side of the freight container and a second pair of lifting points located to the second longitudinal side of the freight container, wherein the first longitudinal side and second 10 longitudinal side are 45 ft or greater in length, and each pair of lifting points is positioned inwardly spaced of the two end walls, such that the lifting points of each pair are spaced no more than 33 ft apart from each other.
 2. A freight container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each lifting point is associated with a structural element extending from the base of the container.
 3. A freight container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lifting points of each pair are equally spaced from the respective end walls of the container.
 4. A freight container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lifting points of each pair are spaced approximately 30 ft apart from each other.
 5. A freight container as claimed in of claim 1, wherein the lifting points of each pair are spaced approximately 20 ft apart from each other.
 6. A freight container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lifting points are ISO twist-lock fittings.
 7. A freight container as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first longitudinal side and second longitudinal side is substantially open.
 8. A freight container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a roof, wherein the four lifting points 10 are integrated into the roof.
 9. A method of lifting a freight container, the freight container with a length of 45 ft or greater, the method comprising the following steps: engaging a lifting apparatus configured for lifting 30 ft containers with lifting points located on said freight container; and lifting the freight container using the lifting apparatus.
 10. A method of lifting a freight container, the freight container with a length of 45 ft or greater, the method comprising the following steps: engaging a lifting apparatus configured for lifting 20 ft containers with lifting points located on said freight container; and lifting the freight container using the lifting apparatus.
 11. (canceled) 